Ranunculus plant named ‘ABLEIGONG’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ‘ABLEIGONG’ is disclosed, characterized by brilliant pink colored flowers. Plants produce an above average quantity of flowers of high quality throughout the flowering season. Flower size produced remains large throughout the flowering season. Plants are strong. The new variety is a Ranunculus, normally produced as a cut flower and potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABLEIGONG’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2008.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘A131-02_04/4’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘B37-01/1’. The new variety was discovered in 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABLEIGONG’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABLEIGONG’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABLEIGONG’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   -   1. Brilliant to nearly iridescent pink flower color.     -   2. Large corolla produced throughout flowering season.     -   3. Exceptionally strong plant.     -   4. Above average quantity and quality of flower stems produced         during the flowering season.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABLEIGONG’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABLEIGONG’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower color. The main flower color of the new variety is         dark pink, near Red-Purple 68B. Main flower color of the seed         parent is Greyed-Orange 169B.     -   2. Flower size. The new variety produces a larger flower, with         an average diameter range of 8 to 12 cm, the seed parent has an         average diameter range of 8 to 10 cm.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABLEIGONG’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABLEIGONG’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower color. The main flower color of the new variety is         dark pink, near Red-Purple 68B. Main flower color of the pollen         parent is white.     -   2. Flower size. The new variety produces a larger flower, with         an average diameter range of 8 to 12 cm, the pollen parent has         an average diameter range of 6 to 8 cm.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABLEIGONG’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Ranunculus ‘ABIOSHEKA’. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABLEIGONG’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Vegetative carriage.     -   2. Floral size, the new variety has a smaller flower.     -   3. Floral color, the new variety has a lighter colored flower         which is more pink than purple.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABLEIGONG’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABLEIGONG’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 15 days at approximately 10-12° C. -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet: 20 days. -   Root description: Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and are     fasciculate type.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, compact, erect     vegetation. -   Height to top flower: 40 to 50 cm. -   Plant spread: 35 to 40 cm. -   Growth rate: Medium. -   Branching characteristics: Main floral stems grow from a basal     rosette with one lateral branches which has a flower. -   Length of lateral branches: 35 to 45 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: 0.7 to 1.0 cm. -   Texture of lateral branches: Slightly tomentose. -   Internode length: Internodes are extremely close together, forming a     basal rosette. -   Strength of lateral branches: Very Strong. -   Color of lateral branches: Yellow Green (RHS 145C). -   Aspect to angle of branches: 25° to 30°. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Usually 2.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf: The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked heterophyllia, in     relation to the degree of their development and their position on     the plant (base of the plant; floral stem). -   Leaf at the base of the plant:     -   -   Arrangement.—Simple (young leaf, YL); Biternate (mature             leaf, ML).         -   Average length.—26.0 to 30.0 cm.         -   Average width.—12.0 to 25.0 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite             (mature leaf).         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature             leaves are generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which             is further divided in 3 or more lobes.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Attachment.—Base of the plant.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose, verrucose.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Matte.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Matte.         -   Leaf internode length.—The internodes are extremely close             together, forming a basal rosette.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137B). Young             foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS 147C). Mature foliage             upper side: Green (RHS 137B). Mature foliage under side:             Yellow Green (RHS 147C).         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous; plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface; raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 145C). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 145C).         -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length: 15 to 20 cm.             Diameter: 0.7 to 1.5 cm. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 145C). -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems (sl):     -   -   Arrangement.—Biternate.         -   Average length.—15.0 to 30.0 cm.         -   Average width.—15.0 to 22.0 cm.         -   Overall shape of blade.—Palmatipartite.         -   Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of             dissection.—Generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which             is further divided in many deeply incised lobes.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Attachment.—Floral stems.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Appearance of top surface.—Glossy.         -   Appearance bottom surface.—Glossy.         -   Leaf internode length.—5.0 to 10.0 cm.         -   Color.—foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137B). foliage under             side: Green (RHS 138B).         -   Venation.—Type: Dichotomous, plunging in to the limb at the             upper surface and raised on the limb at the lower surface.             Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS 145C). Venation             color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 145C).         -   Petiole.—Petiole: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 35 to             40 cm. Diameter: 2.2 to 2.7 cm Pubescence: Slightly             tomentose.         -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 145C).

FLOWER

-   Bloom period: Winter to Spring. -   Vase life (cut flower): 10-15 days. -   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-Cleaning. -   Bud:     -   -   Closed bud.—Shape: Flattened globular with sharp point.             Length: 1 to 2 cm. Diameter: 0.5 to 1.5 cm. Color: Green             (RHS 137B); Red Purple (RHS 61A) along venations and near             the base.         -   Slightly open bud (ob).—Shape: Flattened globular; the             gynoecium is raised, clearly visible at the center of the             corolla. Length: 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Diameter: 2.6 to 3.6 cm.             Color: Red Purple (RHS 63B) near the margin; Yellow Green             (RHS 145C). -   Flower size (of):     -   -   Diameter.—3.0 to 4.0 cm.         -   Height.—34.0 to 39.0 cm. -   Corolla (of): Round, regular, in the form of a flat section. -   Petals:     -   -   Arrangement.—Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle in very             tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite variable,             according to the position in the corolla, decreasing from             the exterior toward the center. The average size of fully             developed petal is as follows:         -   Lobe length.—4.4 to 5.6 cm.         -   Lobe width.—4.0 to 5.2 cm.         -   Quantity.—Double flower, petals are very numerous (>100).         -   Texture.—Silky, thin, resistant.         -   Lobe apex.—Rounded.         -   Lobe shape.—Obovate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Aspect.—Fan shape, concave. -   Color when opening (cf):     -   -   Upper surface.—Red Purple (RHS 68A).         -   Lower surface.—Red Purple (RHS 69A). -   Color fully opened (of):     -   -   Upper surface (pu).—Red Purple (RHS 68B).         -   Lower surface (pl).—Red Purple (RHS 69A). -   Calyx to sepals (s):     -   -   Quantity per flower.—6 or 7. one of which is longer than the             other (L).         -   Shape.—Concave, slightly incurved.         -   Length.—3.8 to 4.8 cm; 7.5 to 8.5 cm (L).         -   Width.—2.0 to 2.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute to Sub-obtuse.         -   Base.—Flat to Slightly rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire; Dentate at the apex.         -   Texture.—Tomentose.         -   Color upper surface.—Green (RHS 138B); White along the             venations.         -   Color lower surface.—Green (RHS 138A); Red-Purple (RHS 61A)             along the venations and near the base. -   Peduncle: None. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—30.0 to 35.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—2.0 to 2.7 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow Green (RHS 145C).         -   Orientation.—Upright, straight, rigid.         -   Pubescence.—Slightly tomentose. -   Fragrance: None.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Androecium:     -   -   Stamens.—Transformed as petals. -   Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short, fused together at the     center of the corolla, in a Yellow (RHS 144B) and Purple (RHS N79B),     irregular, dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Seeds and fruit production not observed. -   Disease to pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus has been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Upper and lower temperature tolerance not     observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled greenhouse.     Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates temperatures within USDA     Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABLEIGONG’ as herein illustrated and described. 